Lager-Only Craft Breweries

Jack Abbys is new to me , and fantastic, would love to sit and have a few. Amazing how good something so simple can be, or buggered up. Might replace most of the IPA's I drink.

 

I guess that's a fair point, albeit a minor quibble. They make a small batch of Hefe in the summer, but the rest of their beers (which account for 95% of their output) are lagers, so for 10 months out of the year they are a "lager-only" brewery.

 

Jack's Abby.

 

I have no knowledge of what is available in Boston.

Is Golden Pheasant available in Boston? Are there any local breweries (i.e., brewpubs) that make Bohemian Pilsners?

Cheers!

 

Not sure if you'll like Jack's Abby or not. They're insanely popular in Mass, but their bread and butter are their hoppy lagers. So it will depend on if you like traditional lagers, or hop forward lagers.

As far as the rest of your post, I definitely agree. I'm ALL about breweries making lagers, but I also like variety. And there aren't enough breweries making sessionable English ales either. One or two amongst the lagers couldn't hurt.

 

I saw your post on Golden Pheasant, and couldn't find it. I've found Konrad (which I was told was representative) and Czechvar. And obviously Pilsner Urquell.

Locally there's Berkshire Brewing Czech Pils, but it's seasonal. Last time I had it, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but that's about all I remember.

Jack's Abby just came out with their Pro-Am Bohemian Pilsner, I was a bit disappointed by it, but I want to give it another try. There's also Notch Session Pils, which I quite enjoy at 4% abv. It's a bit "dirtier" and earthier, but still has a nice spicy hop bite to complement the softer qualities I taste from the malt in this particular brew.

And finally of course, there's Sam Adams Noble Pils, which I'm going to out on a limb here and assume is not traditional.

 

“ …there's Sam Adams Noble Pils, which I'm going to out on a limb here and assume is not traditional.”

It has been a while since I have had a Sam Adams Noble Pils. I have enjoyed drinking it but I am unsure how to comment to the statement/question of “assume is not traditional”. It is certainly ‘representative’ of a European Pilsner. As to whether it is a representative of a Bohemian Pilsner, I am unsure.

It is a shame that in the Boston area you are having ‘issues’ finding ‘good’ Bohemian Pilsners. I personally do not have the problem that you are having. Beer appreciation can sometimes be a challenging hobby.

My answers to ‘quandaries’ like this is often to make a recommendation to homebrew what you are seeking. I homebrew a batch of Bohemian Pilsner every year even though I have very good Bohemian Pilsners available to me (import and US craft brewed). I also homebrew my own Kolsch beers and Altbiers (these are not always readily available to me).

Cheers!

 

Well, it's called NOBLE pils, so I would imagine the other non-Saaz hops in there are non-traditional. And it's a hop-forward pilsner for sure, I even believe it was mistakenly listed on here as a German pils when it first came out.

I'm working on it! Hopefully will brew some lagers this spring when the weather is cooler. At the moment we have no way of lagering the beer. But anyways, you can PM me the answer to this, as it's getting off-topic.

 

I've never understood what using 5 noble hop varieties is supposed to contribute to the style -- save for the necessary IBUs and marketing hook that gets U.S. "craft" beer geeks to give a pils a look in the first place.

I know of no European pilsner representative of either traditional or current brewing practices that utilizes 5 noble hop varieties. If someone wants to explain to me how each hop varietal contributes individually and complementarily to the pilsner style, I'm all ears....

 

Because then you'd have to call it Sam Adams Pils. Or Sam Adams Boston Pils. And that's boring.

 

What, BBC's explanation isn't good enough:

You're not accusing Jim Koch's company of marketing and promotional excess, now, are you?

Samuel Adams® Jamaica Plainsner... Breinigsvillesner... Cincinnaahhh-not-gonna-work-at-all....

 

A prime example of the fine (but clear) line between complex and muddled.

Each of the hop varieties used already contributes a large number of similar flavors and aromas, while maintaining a small number of more distinct characteristics.

To add all 5 in order to purportedly showcase primarily those distinctions ignores the fact that the underlying characteristics -- each with their own less distinct, but nonetheless inherent differences -- get contributed, too.

What you end up with isn't complex, it's a muddled mess.

 

There's always been something about all the Hops in the Noble Pils that numbs my palate after one bottle. Can't explain it, but it even kills my desire for a second beer of any style.

 

I probably should have said that for a pilsner, it is IMO a muddled mess. Some styles can perhaps get away with being more muddled than others.

Regardless, I'm with you on the rapid palate fatigue with this one. Generally I am a fan of SA beers, but....

 

And I should have specified the mix of so many different hops. I didn't mean to infer that it was a hop-bomb that numbed my palate, just something about the blend of so many different varieties.

 

Yay - I'm not alone...I couldn't have described Noble Pils' hop profile any better.

 

I would concurr with this recommendation, I think Golden Pheasant, or Zlaty Bazant is a really tasty beer. It still has a good amount of bitterness along the lines of Pilsner Urquell, and a distinct hoppy taste along with a malty backbone which is neither dry nor sweet (which is helped by the bitterness) giving it a fullness as far as mouthfeel goes.


I highly recommend that you try it AlcahueteJ if you can find it.

 

Traditional noble hops are Saaz, Spalt, Tettnangaer, and Hallertau Mittlefrueh. All have been used in Pilsners.

The 5th non-traditional one, Herrsbrucker, gained use when HM was having hop disease issues.

 

Couldn't find this or Golden Pheasant, but my liquor store just received Praga. Picked up a six of this, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Big spice upfront from the hops. This is followed by somer bitterness that is well balanced with softer malt notes. Had some Pilsner Urquell on draft last night, and Praga is a bit hoppier. The hops are a noticeable difference, but the malt characteristics in Praga really stand out. Incredibly drinkable beer.

Both had SLIGHT diacetyl notes, but honestly if I wasn't searching for it, I wouldn't have noticed. Praga wasn't mentioned in this thread, but I'm digging it.

 

I received Hoponius Union as an extra awhile back. I liked it. Next time I visit Massachusetts, I'll swing by Jack's Abby and try out their other stuff.